Opera-chair.



D. H. SHAPIRO.

OPERA CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY i. I9I5.

1 1 99, 309 atented Sept. 26, 1916.

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DAVID H. SHAPIRO, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

OPERA-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed May 7, 1915. Serial No. 26,5315.

To all 207mm t may concern De it known that I, DAVID H. SHAPIRO, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and resident of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Opera-Chairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact Vdescription. El

lThis invention relates to improvements in folding chairs of the type used in theaters and amusement halls, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive chair, so constructed that the seat will swing to a position flat against the back, so as to provide a maximum of space for the occupant of the chair when standing to permit movement of a person along the row of chairs.

The device consists briefly of a supporting ramework carrying a rigid back, and a seat pivotally suspended from the framework and adapted to swing backwardly and upwardly to a position close against the back.

In the drawings which illustrate the inventionzFigure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing in dotted lines the seat in raised position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing a slight modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a pair of similar side frames or supports, each having an integral arm rest 12, and carrying between them a fixed back 13 having a pivotally mounted l lower portion 14. The seat 15 is suspended between the supports by hangers 16 rigidly secured to the seats and pivotally mounted adjacent the extremities of the arm rests at 17, as clearly shown in the drawings.

The back portion 414 is pivoted at its upper edge, and is pressed forwardly at its lower edge by a spring 18, so as to engage the rear edge of the seat and hold the same in forward position. The seat is held against excess forward movement and supported at its rear edge on a cross bar 19, extending between the supports. A basket20 for the reception of hats, wraps or the like may be suspended from the bar 19 or another bar specially provided, and may be protected from the feet of persons in the rearward, changing gradually to an upward v movement. This has the great advantage that the seat 1s folded unconsciously by a person in rising, so that a special operation 1s unnecessary. This feature distinguishes from the ordinary folding chair in which it is necessary to make a deliberate operation of the folding, as the first movement of the seat is upward rather than backward. With a seat of this character, a person in rising unconsciously presses backward against the front edge of the seat. The seat retreats, forcing back the spring pressed portion 14 until the seat disengages therefrom, and swings backwardly and upwardly to a position close against the back. This allows the occupant to move backwardly into the space formerly occupied by the seat, thus leaving a clear passage in front of the seat, and being at the same time protected from crowding by the projecting arm rests.

It will be readily understood that while the back portion 14 has been described as movable, the same may be rigid and formed to permit free passage of the seat, the spring being shaped to form a catch, serving the same purpose, as shown at 18a, Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1- 1. In a chair of the character described, a framework including a rigid back, a seat pivotally supported in the framework for rearward and upward movement to a position adjacent the back, a resilient back portion in the path of the seat adapted to be displaced by the seat, and a support for the rear edge of the seat.

2. In a chair of the character described, a frame including a back, a seat pivotally suspended in said frame, means for supporting the seat in normal position, and means for releasably locking the seat in normal position operable by the application of rearward pressure at the front edge of the seat comprising e spring pressed extension of the back.

3. In a chair of the character described, a 5 'framework including a back, a seat pivotally mounted in the framework at points above and in advance of the transverse center of the seat, a support for the rear edge of the seat, :1nd a resilient member between the back 10 :md seat, abutting the back edgeof the Seat Copies of this patent may be obtained for '1,199,3oe i and releasably locking the seat in lowered position said member forming a, continuation of the back.

In Witness whereof, I have herelmto set my hand, in the presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID I-I. SHAPIRO.

l/Vitnesses:

S. R4 IV. ALLEN, G. IVL MORELAND.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

